BOG JUNCTION TO WILLOWHOLME JUNCTION (CARLISLE AVOIDING LINE)

16th December 2007

The Carlisle Citadel Act of 1861 included a new loop between Bog Jn and Willowholme Jn to take goods traffic away from the station approaches. It was brought into use in 1877 and a joint undertaking made up from LNWR, CR, MR and GSWR nominees, known as the Goods Traffic Committee (GTC), was formed to administer the branch. In 1984 a freightliner train from Warrington divided when coming down Shap and the rear part free-wheeled towards Carlisle. The signalman in Carlisle PSB routed the front portion away from the goods avoiding lines, but the rear part was channelled through the goods lines. At the bridge over the River Caldew, close to Dentonholme Goods Depot, the remains of the train came to grief. The containers, which included dangerous chemical tanks, derailed on the bridge and caused extensive damage to the track and bridge structure, with some ending up in the river. The through line closed in 1984 but the section south of the damaged bridge remained open for a further ten years to serve the Metal Box Co. The line was first considered for reinstatement in 1999 to deal with a major increase in coal traffic through Carlisle. In April 2007 it was reported that Network Rail was toying with the idea buying back the trackbed. All material for this section has been kindly provided by Ralph Rawlinson.

The site of Rome Street Junction looking towards Bog Junction. 21st May 2007. OS: NY401551	The Rome Street overbridge. 21st May 2007. OS: NY401551	The southernmost of the three viaducts over the River Caldew, seen here from the east bank. 21st May 2007. OS: NY399552	The western side of the viaduct. 21st May 2007. OS: NY399552
Seen from the south, it is revealed that the couthern span is missing, evidence of the 1984 derailment. 21st May 2007. OS: NY399552	The viaduct seen from the severed end. 21st May 2007. OS: NY399552	View north towards Nelson Bridge. The trackbed in this vicinity has been converted into a cycle track. 21st May 2007. OS: NY399554	Nelson Bridge looking south. 21st May 2007. OS: NY399554
The view north from Nelson Bridge. 21st May 2007. OS: NY399554	The site of Dentonholme South Junction looking north. 21st May 2007. OS: NY399556	The site of Dentonholme Goods Station. 21st May 2007. OS: NY398555	View south from the site of Dentonholme South Junction. 21st May 2007. OS: NY399556
View south over Dentonholme South Viaduct which has been converted for cycle use. 21st May 2007. OS: NY398556	The east side of Dentonholme South Viaduct. 21st May 2007. OS: NY398556	The west side of Dentonholme South Viaduct. 21st May 2007. OS: NY398556	Another view of the west side of Dentonholme South Viaduct. 21st May 2007. OS: NY398556
Deck view of Dentonholme South Viaduct looking north. 21st May 2007. OS: NY398556	The north side of the Bridge Street overbridge. 21st May 2007. OS: NY395560	The south side of the Bridge Street overbridge. 21st May 2007. OS: NY395560	The site of Dentonholme North Viaduct. 21st May 2007. OS: NY394562
Midland Railway map of the area.	Extract from the 1947 OS 1 inch sheet.

Mapping images used on this site produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Images reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.